Times Quick Cryptic Crossword Answers Today
Times Quick Cryptic No 3375
By Heron
Across
- 8Translation of one Celtic epic shows creative expressionPOETICLICENCE
- 13Scientist backing team workingEDISON
- 19Dog destroyed coke in parcelsCOCKERSPANIEL
Down
- 1Police eastern woodlandCOPSE
- 2Repair scratched keel and prepare for actionCLEARTHEDECKS
- 3Stiff old part for pianoPRIMO
- 4Handle land-workerTILLER
- 11Consequently allowed petitionSOLICIT
- 14Supply safest mealsFEASTS
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Clip of Hitchcock pitching for location of pilot — Answer: COCKPIT. Hint: Think of the pilot’s workplace, with a famous bird-loving filmmaker inspiring the wordplay. ✈️
- 5. A party in outskirts of Sevenoaks returned drinks — Answer: SODAS. Hint: Look for fizzy refreshments, with the clue hiding a playful reversal in its edges. 🥤
- 8. Translation of one Celtic epic shows creative expression — Answer: POETICLICENCE. Hint: It describes the artistic freedom a writer may take instead of following strict rules. ✍️
- 9. Nobleman with medal in place of jewellery? — Answer: EARLOBE. Hint: Think of the body spot that could host a medal instead of a jewel. 🏅
- 10. Key opening part of Olympic Games? — Answer: EVENT. Hint: Think of a scheduled competition within the Games rather than something that unlocks a door. 🏅
- 11. Primarily sandy, arid, hot and rainless area — Answer: SAHARA. Hint: Think of a vast North African expanse known for scorching heat and endless dunes. 🏜️
- 13. Scientist backing team working — Answer: EDISON. Hint: Think of the prolific inventor famously linked with the practical light bulb. 💡
- 15. Boy starts to look everywhere for implement — Answer: LADLE. Hint: Think of a kitchen utensil made for scooping and serving soup. 🥣
- 16. Sanction me going back alongside British ship — Answer: EMBARGO. Hint: Think of an official ban on trade or dealings, often imposed by a government. 🚫
- 19. Dog destroyed coke in parcels — Answer: COCKERSPANIEL. Hint: Look for a friendly dog breed concealed through playful wordplay involving destruction and parcels. 🐶
- 20. Weapon is part of Beretta series — Answer: TASER. Hint: Think of a handheld weapon that can stop someone with an electric shock from a distance. ⚡
- 21. Hold up South American writer before introduction to DC — Answer: SUSPEND. Hint: Think of a verb that can mean both delaying something and hanging it in place. 🛑
Down
- 1. Police eastern woodland — Answer: COPSE. Hint: Think of a small patch of trees, perhaps where a patrol might take cover near sunrise. 🌲
- 2. Repair scratched keel and prepare for action — Answer: CLEARTHEDECKS. Hint: Think of a nautical command to tidy the ship and get everything ready for action. ⚓
- 3. Stiff old part for piano — Answer: PRIMO. Hint: Think of an old musical term for the piano’s leading or upper part. 🎹
- 4. Handle land-worker — Answer: TILLER. Hint: Think of a word that names both a soil-working farmer and a boat’s steering handle. 🚜
- 5. Do well and draw in one of the best players, we hear — Answer: SUCCEED. Hint: Think of the verb for achieving your goal, with a playful sound-alike reference to attracting someone. 🎯
- 6. Carelessly I never rinsed last piece of plastic tableware — Answer: DINNERSERVICE. Hint: Think of the matching dishes and utensils gathered for serving a meal. 🍽️
- 7. Mollify supporter crushed by recent information from the south — Answer: SWEETEN. Hint: Think of a verb meaning to make someone less upset or more agreeable. 🍬
- 11. Consequently allowed petition — Answer: SOLICIT. Hint: Think of a formal verb meaning to petition or request something. 📝
- 12. Eggs reportedly expensive for some inhabitants of the countryside — Answer: ROEDEER. Hint: Think of a countryside animal whose name sounds like a phrase about costly fish eggs. 🦌
- 14. Supply safest meals — Answer: FEASTS. Hint: Think of lavish meals served for a grand celebration. 🍽️
- 17. Prohibits importing European foodstuff — Answer: BEANS. Hint: Think of a common legume that customs might refuse to let into the country. 🫘
- 18. Top dirty — covered with grease? — Answer: OILED. Hint: Think of what happens when something gets coated in cooking fat after a messy kitchen mishap. 🛢️
Recent Times Quick Cryptic Answers
The last 4 days of solutions
Looking for today's Times Quick Cryptic answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 8, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated as soon as The Times releases it. Launched in March 2014 under crossword editor Richard Rogan, the Quick Cryptic is a Monday–Friday 13×13 with named setters — a deliberate stepping stone into the main Times Cryptic. Whether you're checking a finished grid or stuck on a single clue, the full answers are below.
Full Times Quick Cryptic Crossword answer list for today
Every clue from today's grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.
Across
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clip of Hitchcock pitching for location of pilot | COCKPIT |
| 5 | A party in outskirts of Sevenoaks returned drinks | SODAS |
| 8 | Translation of one Celtic epic shows creative expression | POETICLICENCE |
| 9 | Nobleman with medal in place of jewellery? | EARLOBE |
| 10 | Key opening part of Olympic Games? | EVENT |
| 11 | Primarily sandy, arid, hot and rainless area | SAHARA |
| 13 | Scientist backing team working | EDISON |
| 15 | Boy starts to look everywhere for implement | LADLE |
| 16 | Sanction me going back alongside British ship | EMBARGO |
| 19 | Dog destroyed coke in parcels | COCKERSPANIEL |
| 20 | Weapon is part of Beretta series | TASER |
| 21 | Hold up South American writer before introduction to DC | SUSPEND |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Police eastern woodland | COPSE |
| 2 | Repair scratched keel and prepare for action | CLEARTHEDECKS |
| 3 | Stiff old part for piano | PRIMO |
| 4 | Handle land-worker | TILLER |
| 5 | Do well and draw in one of the best players, we hear | SUCCEED |
| 6 | Carelessly I never rinsed last piece of plastic tableware | DINNERSERVICE |
| 7 | Mollify supporter crushed by recent information from the south | SWEETEN |
| 11 | Consequently allowed petition | SOLICIT |
| 12 | Eggs reportedly expensive for some inhabitants of the countryside | ROEDEER |
| 14 | Supply safest meals | FEASTS |
| 17 | Prohibits importing European foodstuff | BEANS |
| 18 | Top dirty — covered with grease? | OILED |
Today's Times Quick Cryptic answers
Today's solution appears above, split into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. Each answer is listed separately so you can reveal just the clue that's blocking you. The grid is confirmed Monday through Friday as soon as The Times publishes it.
About the Times Quick Cryptic
The Times Quick Cryptic launched in March 2014 under crossword editor Richard Rogan as a deliberate stepping stone into the main Times Cryptic. It uses a reduced 13×13 grid (56 fewer squares than the 15×15) and shorter, fairer cryptic clueing — well-known wordplay devices, fewer oblique definitions — so newer solvers can finish in one sitting, and experienced solvers get a quick warm-up. Unlike the anonymous main Cryptic, each Quick Cryptic carries a setter pseudonym (Jalna, Wurm, Pipsqueak, Teazel and others). It appears Monday–Friday only. Ready for the full puzzle? See our Times Cryptic answers.
Quick Cryptic vs the main Times Cryptic
What changes when you step up from the QC to the 15×15:
| Quick Cryptic | Times Cryptic | |
|---|---|---|
| Grid size | 13×13 | 15×15 |
| Days | Monday–Friday | Daily |
| Setter | Named pseudonym | Anonymous |
| Clueing | Shorter, familiar devices | Full cryptic range |
| Intent | Learn cryptics / quick solve | The main daily challenge |
How to break a stubborn Quick Cryptic clue
- Find the definition. It almost always sits at the start or end of the clue; the middle is the wordplay.
- Use the smaller grid. On a 13×13, one confirmed answer often unlocks two or three crossings at once.
- Expect fair play. Quick Cryptic setters are steered toward common wordplay and clearer definitions than the main cryptic — if a reading feels impossibly obscure, try the simpler parse first.
- Reveal one answer only. Our crossword solver confirms a single clue from your known letters without spoiling the rest.
Browse past Times Quick Cryptic answers
Every previous weekday Quick Cryptic is archived on this page by date with full solutions. There is no Quick Cryptic on Saturday or Sunday, so the archive steps from Friday to Monday. Stuck on a single clue, our crossword solver will reveal just that answer.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's Times Quick Cryptic answers?
Every across and down answer for today's puzzle (August 8, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as The Times releases it.
What time does the Times Quick Cryptic come out?
Monday through Friday at midnight UK time. There is no Quick Cryptic on Saturday or Sunday. We post the answers as soon as that day's grid is listed.
What is the Times Quick Cryptic?
Launched on 10 March 2014 under crossword editor Richard Rogan, it's a Monday–Friday 13×13 cryptic with named setters — shorter and gentler than the main Times Cryptic, aimed at newer cryptic solvers or a quicker daily solve.
Why are Quick Cryptic setters named?
Unlike the anonymous main Cryptic, each Quick Cryptic carries a pseudonym (Jalna, Wurm, Pipsqueak, Teazel and others) so solvers can learn individual styles while they practise cryptic devices.
Does the Quick Cryptic run on weekends?
No — it appears Monday through Friday. For weekends, the main Times Cryptic still runs.
Where can I find past Times Quick Cryptic answers?
Every previous weekday puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions. The archive steps from Friday to Monday.